The window slowly closes on carbon-pricing harmony

by Angus Reid | July 27, 2018 12:20 pm

By Shachi Kurl[1], Executive Director

Those were the days: that heady spring of 2015 when a majority of Canadians didn’t need (not-yet-legal) marijuana to feel the pleasant warmth and euphoria associated with majority support[2] for national carbon pricing. Such a good idea it seemed at the time, the federal Liberals incorporated it into their ultimately successful campaign platform.

Now, six months before Justin Trudeau’s government is set to implement a national plan to set a price on carbon emissions in provinces that don’t already have a scheme in place, Canadians are getting cold feet. National support for carbon pricing has dropped to below 50 per cent[3], and the prime minister faces a burgeoning revolt from the provinces that only threatens to escalate.

Premiers Scott Moe of Saskatchewan and Doug Ford of Ontario have emerged as leaders of the emissions-reduction rebellion, but their battle plans are not judged equally by Canadians. While two-thirds (64 per cent) of the country says the provinces should have the final say on carbon pricing and reduction programs, opinions over these two provinces’ courses of attack diverge.

For the rest of this piece, please view it on the Ottawa Citizen’s site[4], where it was initially published.